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Consise Summary

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: March 31, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Since every other game pretty much gives a recap of the entire premise of the game, i'll keep this short.

Pretty fun. While the game will be fun, exciting, (and possibly scary for some), I found the gameplay to slowly go downhill as you went further, since you seem to be doing the same thing throughout. The game does have its high points where cool scenes and whatnot bring the story together, but these are few and far between.

The most disappointing aspect is how you find clues and solve the murder. You run on "intuition", so when you are near clues, the proper tools are select and you need only find a spot in the room. This leaves almost all the solving out of your hands, something I was looking forward to being able to do.

Gameplay Replayability: While some people may differ, I don't find much replayability in this, since once you have completed the game, the only reason you have to play again is to find metal pieces and dead birds through levels in order to get achievements and view some pictures. The scripted monster killing seemed to get boring after a while, which offered me no reason to play again.

Graphics: Top of the line overall, but nothing you shouldn't expect on Xbox 360.

Overall: While the game is quite fun at first, once you're done it offers little replayability. The game itself doesn't last too long, perhaps 10 hours overall, and the rankings are purely based off kills made and gameplay time, which seems to show people must have either hacked or left their game on too long.

Overall, a great game to rent, but there are other games out there for 360 which offer more in the end. I will probably rent the 2nd, and may never play the first again.

Freaky, Freaky, Freaky

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: February 20, 2006
Author: Amazon User

So the controls may be a little sluggish and the gameplay a little repetitive - this game is just flat out FREAKY to play.

This is an interactive horror experience. This could have easily turned into a corny, over-the-top B movie ... but it actually succeeds at remaining creepy throughout the game.

Anybody complaining that the game is "too short" or "too easy" needs to play on a harder difficulty level.

I highly recommend this game to any new Xbox360 owners. It's a nice departure from all the other first person shooter games currently available for 360.

What a twisted game...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: June 08, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Comdemned Criminal Origins is an excellent game. I have just finished beating the game today "June 7,2006" and the game is pretty amazing. For my opinion the game is great, dont get me wrong on that, but it's probally not the type of game that I would like to play over and over again. The game has a major role of suspence and it has major twists. The game seems fun to play at, at first but after you beat it then it can get kind of boring. This is after you unlock all of the unlockables. But one of the things that surprised me was that the graphics for a game that was released on Nov. 17, 2005, were really good compared to today's next gen games. One of the things that made the game exciting for me was how much environmental the area was. You could pick up anything from guns on the floor to the pipes on the walls. Even the sound effect of when an item smashes into a person is so detailed, I mean not that I would know but it's definetly a game worth trying out. Also it will probally be best if kids dont play this game becouse of the ecessive violence.

Frighteningly fun!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: February 08, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Although I didn't pick up this title at launch with my Xbox 360, I wish I had. This game is one of the most innovative and unique titles for the 360 platform, and provides an incredibly entertaining adventure for those who aren't afraid of a little R-rated horror.

Make no mistake, this is not a game for your children (or grandchildren) but an adult title where you're put in the shoes of an FBI agent hunting a crazed serial killer. And the path to your success is paved with pulse-pounding moments of terror and exciting action.

The game starts out at a murder scene, and walks you through using the 360 controller to sample evidence and move about the environment. Although much of the first-person interface is new, the controls are easy to pick up, and you'll quickly find yourself immersed in the world and flawlessly moving through it.

Although the entire 10-level game is entirely land based (you don't use vehicles or do anything besides walk around), the maps are well designed and offer interesting variety. Likewise, the story is so robust that you'll be trying to solve the puzzles as your character works each crime scene.

If you like to earn all of the "Achievements" (or gamerpoints) for a 360 title, this game will deliver. With rewards for completing each level (regardless of difficulty setting), you'll add 150 to your gamerscore just by finishing the game. But the fun (and replayability) comes from unearthing all of the secrets in the game, including dozens of secrets, finding every piece of evidence in your hunt for a serial killer and using every weapon in the game.

There is no online or multiplayer component to this game, but there are "scoreboards" tracking the amount of time you've spent in the game, your melee kills, etc. Honestly though, you're not playing the game to make it on the scoreboard, you're playing because you'll find yourself hopelessly sucked into the plot... And this game is easy enough that you could hand this to someone who's never played a game and get them involved too. Just make sure you keep the lights on!

One of my all time favorites.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: October 20, 2007
Author: Amazon User

A few reviews complain of limited ammo. Yes, whille this is true, it is the very point of the game. When you run out of ammo, you find a pipe, a piece of wood, a wrench, theres all kinds of things to pick up, and you go in and get close and personal. THAT is the thrill of the game.

When you do get a gun, you don't take it for granted, you savor your ammo. You save it for a rainy day.

I can't play this game alone. You *shouldn't* play this game alone. Although the box says one player game, it is not, in my opinion. At my sister's graduation party, playing it I had a room full of people terrified yet being pulled more and more into the game. This is something not to be wasted. Play this game with a room full of people. The screams of the audience just help to pull you deeper. This is when to play the game.
It is a great game, my one complaint would be that it is too short, I played through it in two sittings. My feeling is that if you liked either of the Max Payne games, you'll love this.

My new favorite game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: September 02, 2007
Author: Amazon User

If you're in to horror, serial killers, CSI, or anything like that. This is your game. You will get scared and you will jump. Ive never felt so much like i was in a game, but this one is DEFINITELY amazing. the price of this game now shouldnt have ever gone this low. you wont be disappointed. ive played all sorts of games that were supposed to scare you, but this is the first game that i can honestly say has scared me. And also if you like this, then you should definitely try "Manhunt".

freakiest game i've ever played

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: February 03, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This game is by far the creepiest and most disturbing game I have ever played. The creators at Sega and Monolith are quite possibly deranged psychopaths, but that just makes this game all the better. In my humble opinion, Nintendo needs to take a lesson from Sega and stop making consoles and stick to games (and make sure they involve characters besides Mario). But sticking to the task at hand, the freakiest part for me (and this is all I'm going to say about it) is what/who you find inside a locker at the high school. The final level, the boss at the end, and how the story finally ends are also very unnerving, for lack of a better word. The videos and segways between levels are also creepy as hell. In one, you're thrown around like a rag doll by some invisible force(it thankfully doesn't affect your health). The graphics are simply amazing, and definitely the best of any of the five games I've played on this conxole. The storyline is solid and completely engrossing, and by what I gather from the absolutely insane ending, I would not be surprised to eventually see a sequal. In short, if you're in the mood for good a old-fashioned zombie massacre kind of game this needs to be on the top of your list.

A lust for brutality

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: February 09, 2006
Author: Amazon User

In case you've ever wanted an experience in which you can sate your lust for life-like brutality without having to go on an actual killing spree yourself, it can be done in the not-so healthy murderous escapade that is Condemned. Besides that, it is a generally good-natured and humorous title that will more than often fill your black lungs with billowing laughter. Watch as that pervert's teeth fly! My favorite part has to be the Tibbits sequence. That armless bastard had me chuckling from my gullet mighty quick!

I have Never in my life had a Crackhead throw a chair at me in a game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: March 14, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Walking in the dark, crazy crackheads everywhere (no this isn't a dave chapelle episode) and they are moving throughtout a building you are investigating in, and great.... a serial killer has your gun. Yeah... The best way to describe this game is the Silent Hill series without monsters with more swearing. Yeah...it is that fear that drives you to play it. Get it. That is all I have to offer.

a great rental

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: March 17, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Condemned is the first thriller game on the 360, created by the folks at Monolith, who are responsible for the hit F.E.A.R. on the PC. Unfortunately, this game didn't get the attention it deserves at launch due to the incredible amounts of hype surrounding Perfect Dark Zero.

Condemned places you in the shoes of FBI agent Ethan Thomas, and you're investigating the strange murders of a serial killer. Right off the bat, Ethan is framed for the murder of two police officers while investigating the crime scene. This leads you through 10 missions in which Ethan tries to prove he isn't guilty along with tracing the deadly serial killer, did i also mention that the city is crawling with angry drug addicts?

Unlike most 1st person shooters, Condemned tends to incorporate real life situations in the game. For example, 80% of the fighting you encounter will be with a handheld weapon. You will find some guns, such as a pistol, shotgun, or a submachine gun, but they only have a handful of shots in them. Once you use up your shots, the gun is worthless. The handheld weapons range from 2x4s to locker doors, and each weapon has its pros and cons (i.e. larger weapons take longer to swing, but they reach farther and do more damage). Some weapons, such as sledgehammers and fire axes, are needed to advance in certain areas of the levels.

The problem with the combat system is that after you play the game for a few hours, it becomes extremely dull. You can only do two things with weapons: swing/shoot and block. The only real strategy behind the system is learning how to block effectively, and in doing so, performing a counter-attack. After knocking down enemies, some of them will stay on their knees, after which you can do 1 of 4 different 'finishing moves'. While these too can get boring, they are executed amazingly. For example, one of the options is to deliver a crushing headbutt to your enemy, when you do this, the screen flies towards the enemy and you deliver a sickening thud, giving you the impression that you ARE Ethan Thomas.

You are also given a taser, but I think that this takes away from the game a bit. When you shock your enemy, they are frozen in place for you to destroy, while it does take a few seconds to recharge, its too easy to back away and taser your enemy until he's a sitting duck. this is made even worse when you get an upgraded that goes one step further by knocking down the enemy.

While the combat is boring after so long, the enemies are still a blast to just watch. The enemy AI isn't the same moron you see in nearly every 1st person shooter. Enemies will charge at you, take fake swings to try and trick you, pretend to fall down only to come back with a deadly swing, and even run away if they see you have a much better weapon than them.

A complaint i have is with the weird movement controls. Ethan walks throughout the game, and you can only run when you click and hold the left analog stick, and even then there is an energy meter, which once empty, will slow you down again. There also isn't a jump button, the game instead tells you when to jump. This isn't a huge downer because there aren't that many situations where you will need to jump.

Throughout the levels, you will come across certain areas which contain evidence needed to find the serial killer. This is where the 'CSI' investigative part of Condemned comes in. Unfortunately, the game pretty much holds your hand whenever one of these situations pops up. You are told which tool to use, and how to use it. Which leads me to another problem, the game lacks any challenging puzzles and is very linear. Monolith decided to focus more on the fighting aspect of the game, which is fun for only a few hours.

The level design is somewhat dull, a lot of the areas look exactly the same, which obviously leads to moments where you get lost a lot. The sound makes up for it however, as the sickening thuds you hear when you hit someone with a hammer is gruesome, but extremely satisfying. Its also a blast to play with surround sound, because there are many times when you hear a drug addict running around planning his attack, and you have no clue where he is.

The last issue I had is a save glitch in my game. I haven't heard anyone else have this problem, but in example, i was on level 6, but when i started up my game, i was loaded into the middle of level 4. Unfortunately, this happened quite a lot near the end of my game, but like I said, I haven't heard this problem with anyone else.

Overall, Condemned is a great game, but several shortcomings keep it from being one worthy of the hefty price tag. I would expect about 10-12 hours of gameplay, with little to no replay value, unless you really want to unlock all the achievements. Condemned makes a great rental, and its a blast to play at night with the lights off, with surround sound.

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